Organic packaging

ABSTRACT

The invention produces a packaging assembly and system therefor in which a naturally occurring organic tube (such as bamboo or a stem of Johnson grass) is used. The naturally occurring hollow organic tube is cut into a chosen length, and, after the product (such as cigars, marijuana, homeopathic medicine and spices) is put into the hollow tube, the ends are sealed using stoppers such as wax, rubber, glass, cork or plastic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to packaging arrangements and more specifically to a packaging system which is organic in nature.

In the retail world, the packaging of the product is almost as important as the product itself. Packaging which catches the consumer's eye and appeals to them, results in more sales.

This is especially true for unique packaging which is so very important to set the product aside from competitors. The typical package is often a cardboard box or backing with a plastic cover for the products. There are even many products which are sold in baggie form with little or no information about the product itself.

These products are often difficult to sell; after all, one baggie of marijuana is identical to another baggie of marijuana. If the retail outlet wants to distinguish their marijuana from the others, there are very few options available to the retailer.

It is clear that there is an ever present need for unique packaging of products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention produces a packaging assembly and system therefor in which a naturally occurring organic tube (such as bamboo or a stem of Johnson grass from the Poaceae family of grasses) is used. The naturally occurring hollow interior of the organic tube are cut into a chosen length, and, after the product (such as cigars, marijuana, homeopathic materials and spices) is put into the hollow tube, the ends are sealed using stoppers (e.g. wax. Rubber, glass, cork or plastic).

The organic package of the present invention utilizes a naturally occurring organic tube such as those found in the Poaceae family of grasses (ideally from the bamboo group or Johnson grass). These naturally occurring organic tubes are cleaned of fibers and cut to the desired length.

Those of ordinary skill in the art readily recognize a variety of techniques which may be employed to cut the naturally occurring tubes, including, but not limited to those described in: U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,226, entitled “Manufacturing Method for Construction Material Made of Woody Material and Mortar” issued to Fujii et al. on Nov. 24, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,908, entitled “Method for Forming Bamboo Slats of Window Blinds” issued to Hsu on Nov. 30, 2004; and, U.S. Pat. No. 8,696,852, entitled “Method of Making Bamboo-Surfaced Layered Venetian Blind Slats having a Curved Cross-Section” issued to Chen on Apr. 15, 2014; all of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.

The naturally occurring organic tube has a substantially hollow interior allowing a first open end to communicate with a second open end. Once the desired product has been placed within the tube, the ends are then sealed with stoppers.

The organic tube, with stoppers, is ideal for containing an organic material that is adapted for human consumption such as, but not limited to: cigars, cigarettes, spices, herbal medicines, homeopathic treatments, and marijuana derivatives. Those of ordinary skill in the art recognize a variety of marijuana derivatives such as, but not limited to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,825,209, entitled “Compounds having Unique CB1 Receptor Binding Selectivity and Methods for their Production and Use” issued to Thomas et al. on Nov. 30, 2004; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,491, entitled Tetrahydrocannabinol in a Method of Treating Glaucoma” issued to Shapiro et al. on Feb. 19, 1980; both of which are incorporated hereinto by reference,

Ideally the first stopper and the second stopper are wax. In this context, the hollow tube is ideally dipped into the wax so that the entire end of the tube, together with some of the circumference of the tube proximate to the end, is coated with the wax.

Those of ordinary skill in the art readily recognize a variety of other techniques which are applicable in this situation for applying the wax, including, but not limited to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,123, entitled “Spa Wax Heating Device” issued to Donovan et al. on May 31, 2011; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,067,366, entitled “Flotation Device Repair Composition and Method” issued to Miller on Jun. 30, 2015; both of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.

In an embodiment of the invention, a wadding of paper interposed between the wax seals and the product within the tube. While the wadding of paper is sometimes blank, other uses include the incorporation of witty sayings and uses for the product. These witty sayings range from “You will meet an old friend soon” to “enjoy the day”. Proposed uses for the product might be “Marijuana makes a great additive for chili” or general recipes. This turns the package into a type of “fortune cookie”.

In one embodiment of the invention, the wax is stamped with a seal which is used to identify the contents within the hollow tube. Those of ordinary skill in the art readily recognize a variety of techniques useful in this context, including, but not limited to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,033, entitled “Imitation Wax Seal” issued to Soproni on Dec. 11, 2001 and incorporated hereinto by reference.

While in some applications, the organic material which has been applied to the interior of the tube is done by hand, mechanized methods are also contemplated such as, but not limited to, those described in: U.S. Pat. No. 8,607,801, entitled “Tobacco Chamber Tool” issued to Mardirosoglu et al. on Dec. 17, 2013; U.S. Pat. No. 8,707,661, entitled “Packaging and Filling Machine” issued to Kinoshita et al. on Apr. 29, 2014; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,038,641, entitled “Device for Filling a Cigarette Tube with a Metered Amount of Tobacco” issued to Moser et al. on May 26, 2015; all of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.

In alternative embodiments, rubber is used in lieu of the wax stoppers. Again, ideally the wax is applied while it is in a liquid form allowing the wax to cool and seal the hollow tube.

Still other embodiments utilize a clear material for one or both of the stoppers allowing the consumer to see the product therein. This clear material is sometimes glass although clear plastic is preferred.

The invention together with various embodiments will be more fully explained by the accompanying drawings and the following descriptions thereof.

DRAWINGS IN BRIEF

FIG. 1 illustrates the harvesting, cleaning, and cutting of the naturally grown organic tube (a bamboo in this illustration).

FIGS. 2A-2F illustrate the packaging of a product into the naturally grown organic tube.

FIG. 3 illustrates the imprinting of a symbol onto the wax at the end of the naturally grown organic tube.

DRAWINGS IN DETAIL

FIG. 1 illustrates the harvesting, cleaning, and cutting of the naturally grown organic tube (a bamboo in this illustration).

Naturally grown bamboo 10A contains leaves 11 together with fiber within the tube. Leaves 11 are removed, the interior of the tube is cleaned, and the bamboo is aged 10B to provide a hardened body.

This hardened body is cut into pre-selected lengths 10C, 10D, 10E, and 10F.

While this illustration shows bamboo, the invention is not intended to be so limited and includes a variety of naturally occurring tubes such as Johnson grass and others within the Poaceae family of grasses.

FIGS. 2A-2F illustrate the packaging of a product into the naturally grown organic tube.

Using segment 10F, a wadding of paper 20A is inserted into the tube and segment 10F is then dipped into liquid solution 22A (wax in this illustration) as indicated by arrow 21A. This immerses the end of segment 10F into wax 22A which is then removed as indicated by arrow 21B and allowed to harden 23A.

The product 24A, intended to be contained with the naturally occurring tube 10F, is inserted into the tube 10F as indicated by arrow 21C. In this illustration, product 24A is any of a variety of organic materials obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, including, but not limited to: cigars, marijuana, homeopathic materials and spices.

Once tube 10F has been so loaded with the product 24A, paper wadding 20B is inserted as indicated by arrow 21D to maintain the product in situ within the naturally occurring tube 10F.

Tube 10F is rotated and the opposing end is lowered, as indicated by arrow 21D, into the liquid solution 21D to form the wax seal 23B and the final package 25.

Although this discussion relates to dipping the tube into wax to form the seal, other materials are also contemplated, including, but not limited to rubber.

In some embodiments, liquid material 22A is a melted glass or plastic. In this embodiment, the paper wad 20A is not used. The glass or plastic is allowed to dry and cool before the product is placed within the tube. This provides a “window” so that the product may be inspected by the consumer and retail vendor.

FIG. 3 illustrates the imprinting of a symbol onto the wax at the end of the naturally grown organic tube.

When wax or rubber is used as the seals, and while they are still warm and soft 23A, a symbol is pressed into the wax or rubber as symbol 30 (a marijuana plant symbol in this illustration). This assists the consumer and vendor in identifying the goods contained within the tube.

Other symbols are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.

It is clear that the present invention provides for a packaging which is organic in nature and helps to distinguish the product from its competitors. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An organic package comprising: a) a naturally occurring organic tube having a substantially hollow interior, said naturally occurring tube being cut into a chosen length such that a first open end thereof communicates with a second open end; and, b) a first stopper adapted to seal the first end of the naturally occurring tube; and, c) a second stopper adapted to seal the second end of the naturally occurring tube.
 2. The organic package according to claim 1, wherein the naturally occurring tube is chosen from Poaceae family of grasses.
 3. The organic package according to claim 2, wherein the Poaceae grass is bamboo.
 4. The organic package according to claim 1, wherein said naturally occurring organic tube is cleaned of fibers within the tube.
 5. The organic package according to claim 1, wherein the first stopper and the second stopper are wax.
 6. The organic package according to claim 5, wherein the wax stoppers have a seal imprinted therein.
 7. The organic package according to claim 5, wherein: a) the wax of the first stopper at the first end, covers the entire first end as well as a portion of an exterior of the naturally occurring organic tube proximate to the first end; and, b) the wax of the second stopper at the second end, covers the entire second end as well as a portion of an exterior of the naturally occurring organic tube proximate to the second end.
 8. The organic package according to claim 7, further including: a) a first paper wadding within the naturally occurring organic tube proximate to the first stopper; and, b) a second paper wadding within the naturally occurring organic tube proximate to the second stopper.
 9. The organic package according to claim 1, wherein the first stopper and the second stopper are rubber.
 10. The organic package according to claim 1 wherein the first stopper is a clear material.
 11. The organic package according to claim 10, wherein the clear material is glass.
 12. The organic package according to claim 10, wherein the clear material is plastic.
 13. An organic package comprising: a) a naturally occurring organic tube cut td a chosen length having a substantially hollow interior with a first open end thereof communicating with a second open end; b) an organic material contained with the naturally occurring organic tube; and, c) a containment mechanism adapted to maintain the organic material within the naturally occurring organic tube.
 14. The organic package according to claim 13, wherein the naturally occurring tube is a stalk from Johnson grass.
 14. The organic package according to claim 13, wherein the naturally occurring tube is bamboo.
 15. An organic package system comprising: a) an naturally occurring organic hollow tube; b) a first stopper adapted to seal a first end of the naturally occurring organic hollow tube; and, c) a second stopper adapted to seal a second end of the naturally occurring organic hollow tube.
 16. The organic package system according to claim 15, wherein the first stopper and the second stopper are wax.
 17. The organic package system according to claim 16, further including: a) a first paper wadding within the naturally occurring organic tube proximate to the first stopper; and, b) a second paper wadding within the naturally occurring organic tube proximate to the second stopper.
 18. The organic package system according to claim 17, further containing an organic material adapted for human consumption and contained within the naturally occurring organic hollow tube.
 19. The organic package system according to claim 17, wherein: a) the wax of the first stopper at the first end, covers the entire first end as well as a portion of an exterior of the naturally occurring organic tube proximate to the first end; and, b) the wax of the second stopper at the second end, covers the entire second end as well as a portion of an exterior of the naturally occurring organic tube proximate to the second end.
 20. The organic package system according to claim 15, wherein the first stopper and the second stopper are rubber. 